Dimming apparatus for headlights



Nov. 1-1, 1924,, 1,515,371

1-1. M. SMITH DIMMING APPARATUS FOR HEADLIGHTS Filed Aug. 9. 1922 Inventor: Henry JIonford Smzii'a,

Patented Nov. 11, 1924.

UNHTED STATES HENRY MONFORD SIdITI-I, OF LYNDONVILLE, VERMONT.

DIMIMING APPARATUS FOR HEADLIGHTS.

Application filed August 9, 1921. Serial No. 490,851.

T all whom it may concern Be it known that I, HENRY MoNFoRD SMITH, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Lyndonville, in the county of Caledonia and State of Vermont, have in vented an Improvement in Dimming Apparatus for Headlights, of which the following description, in connection with the accompanying drawings, is a specification, like characters on the drawings representing like parts.

This invention relates to dimming apparatus for lamps in general, and more particularly for headlights of motor vehicles. The invention has for its object improved operating mechanism for such dimming apparatus and more particularly for the dimming means described in my Patent No. 1,386,968, granted August 9, 1921.

The invention in its aims and objects will be best understood from the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, of one illustrative embodiment of the invention, the invention in its true scope being pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical central section of a headlight for motor vehicles, embodying one embodiment of the, invention, the operating switch and electrical connections being shown diagrammatically;

Fig. 2 is a front view of the electric bulb and shades adapted to cooperate therewith;

Fig. 3 is a lateral elevation of the shades;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the electromagnets, their armature and certain of the connections operated thereby for actuating the shades; and

Fig. 5 is a sectional elevation on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

The invention is herein shown in its application to headlights for motor vehicles. Referring to the drawings, Fig. 1 shows a headlight of well known construction, for the usual casing 2 and lens 4. Within the casing 2 is a substantially parabolic partition 6, having a central opening surrounded by a sleeve 8, preferably integral with 'sa'idpartition; the front surface of said partition 6 constituting a reflector 9. Within said sleeve 8 is mounted an electric bulb socket 10 of usual construction, adapted to receive within its forward end an electric light bulb; 12, and having the usual contact or contacts (not shown) for the latter adapted to be connected to a storage battery or other suitable source of electric current by wires 14, 14.

in the illustrative embodiment of the invention herein shown the dimming means may and preferably will be the same as that described in my patent above referred to, said means comprising two curved shades 16, 18, pivotally mounted at their rear ends upon diametrically opposed studs 20, upon opposite sides of a band 22 (see Fig. l) encircling the bulb socket 10 adjacent its forward end, and clamped thereto by a clamping screw 24 extending through ears 26 projecting from the ends of said band.

l ierein only one of the studs 20 and only one of the cars 26 are shown.

Upon the rear end of the sleeve 8 and between the reflector 9 and casing 2 is clamped a plate 28, said sleeve 8 extending through a circular opening 30 provided in the said plate, which latter is split at 32 and provided with ears 84, 34 through. which extends a screw 36 provided upon its free end with a nut 38 for firmly clamping the said plate upon said sleeve 8.

To the plate 28 and at one side of the opening 30 therein there is secured a second plate 40 upon which are mounted in any suitable manner two electromagnets 42, 44.

To the plate 40, there is secured at right.

angles thereto by screws 46, 46a plate 48 having an opening through which extends the reduced threaded end of a stud 52. I

Upon the screw threaded end of the stud 52 is screwed a nut 54, thus securing the stud firmly to the plate 48.

Upon the stud 52 is pivotally mounted a sleeve 56 carrying the double armature 58 for the two magnets, said sleeve beingiheld in place on the stud by a screw 60 screwed into the end of said stud. To the end of the armature 58 opposite the magnet 44 is secured a rod 62 to which is pivotally connected at 64 a rod 66 extending through an opening in the plate 28 and an opening in the reflector 9, the free end of said rod be ing in proximity to one of the pivots 20 upon which are pivoted the shades 16 and 18. To this end of the rod 66 is secured a cross piece 68 provided with two pins 70, 72 engaging respectively in the elongated slots 74, 76 in the shades. These slots are inclined to the line of contact 78 of the shades 16 and 18 when the latter are closed and are placed symmetrically with respect to said line, so that reciprocatory movement of the rod endwise Oi the latt 2?. will, by the cnp'apjenuuit of said studs in said slots. open and close the shades 16 and 18, the closed position of which is shown in full l in 1 and 3 and tl open pos' n dotted lines in Fig.1; 1. Means are herein provided for eneigizinn; magnets 4-9 44, said means, in the embodiment of the inveution herein shown comprising a switch having its pivoted point connected by a w 82 to one pole of a battery Set, two contacts 86 and SS being provided with which the free end. of the switch can be brought into contact by swinging it to one side or the other. The contact 86 is connected b a wire 90 with one terminal ot the in I +2, the other terminal of which is connected by a wire 97?. with the positive pole at the battery 84. The contact (F01 ,ICl by a wire 9% with one of the terminals o the magnet 4-4, the other t .rminal of which is' connected by a wire 96 with the positive pole of said battery. The battery conven ient-ly is the storage battery of the automobile.

1 Assuming the shades to be in closed position as indicated in full lines in Fig. 1, then the pins 70, '72 which engage the slots 74;. 7 6

in the shades will be in the outer ends of said slots. it now the magnet 4H2 be energized by swinging the switch 80 into con tact with the contact 86, the armature will be attracted by said magnet, thus drawing the rod 66 to the right in l. in this movement the pins 70. 72 on the rod 66 will be drawn to the right seen in l and 3 and by their engagements with the slots 74. T6 in the shields l6 and 16 will throw the latter about their pivot approximately into the dotted. line position shown in Fig. 1, the shades being thus open. It. on the other hand, the switch bc swung into contact with the contact 88 then the magnet 44: 'will be energized, the armature will be attracted by said magnet, and the rod 66 being'thus moved longitudinally to the left in- Fig. 1 the pins 70, 72 thereon by their engagement with the slots 74:. 76 in the two shades 16 and 18 will swing shades in wardlv into closed positionindicated i Full ines Fig. 1.-

neutral position for the switch is ind at 98v The switch may be kept in th s position when neither m enet is'to be energized and can be swung into this position after energizing either magnet so as not to keep the battery in circuit after the shades have been operated. thus saving the battery'as much as possible.

Means are herein provided for locking the'shades in open and in closed position. Said means may be of any suitable construction and herein conveniently comprises a resilient rod or latch piece 100 having one end secured by a clamp 102 to the plate 46. The rod 100 is yieldingly pressed in contact w I the stud 10-1 provided on that end of the armature 58 opposite to that to which is connected the rod 66, and the rod 1.00 is provided with two curved portions 106, 106 so locatd that when the shades are in closed position the stud 104- will be yieldingly engaged by one of said curved portions and when said shades are intheir open position the will be engaged by the other oi i (L ed portions. This furnishes a very con venicit and simple means for locking: the shades both in opened and in closed position.

As in my patent above referred to, the shades 16 and 18 will pi'eferably bc curved longitudinally and transversely in substantial correspondence in urvature with the reflector 9. and their inner surfaces will preferably be provided with a reflecting sur face, so that in the position shown in dotted lines in Fig. they may take the place of the portions of the reflector surfa e masked by them in that position and not materially impair the reflecting of the light rays.

As in said patent also, the shades are herein so shaped that, when in closed position. they intercept rays directed upwardly and downwardly from the bulb and allow lateral and "forward rays to pass freely, the shades being cut away laterally and open at the front for that purpose.

it will be obvious that various chan may be made in the details of the means herein shown for carrying; the invention into pra tical eliect, and it is to be undei" stood that applicant does not regard himself as restricted or limited to these details. his invention in its true scope being" definitely set forth in the claims.

Claims:

1. in apparatus of the class descr'bed. in combination. a reflector; a. source of light: dimming shades for said source of light mounted swinging movement between said source of light and said reflector. said shades being;- cut away at the front and laterally, so that when in closed position. they intercept rays directed upwardly and downwardly from said sour e of light and all 1 tom.

3. In apparatus of the class described, in combination a reflector; a source of light; opposed dimming shades mounted for swinging movement between said source of light and said reflector, said shades being shaped, so that, when in dimming position they intercept rays directed upwardly and downwardly from said source of light and allow lateral and forward rays to pass; an actuator; a slot and stud connection between said actuator and said shades; an electromagnet; a source of electric current in circuit with said magnet; an armature for said magnet operatively connected to said actuator; and means to energize said magnet and through saidarmature and actuator to operate said shades.

4. In apparatus of the class described, in combination, a reflector; an electric bulb as a source of light; opposed dimming shades for the latter, movable to and from dimming position, said shades being oppositely curved transversely of said bulb and cutaway at the front and laterally so as to leave said bulb uncovered in front and at a portion of the sides thereof while covering said bulb at top and bottom, when said shades are in dimming position; a pair of electromagnets; a source of electric current in circuit with said magnets; an armature for said magnets; an actuator connected to said armature and operatively connected to said shades; and means to close said circuit and alternatively to energize said magnets and through said armature and actuator to move said shades into and out of dimming position.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

HENRY MONFORD SMITH. 

